Commodore Junk Part 28

"Well, this here ar'nt cheerful," he said.

"You're beat. Why don't you give in?"

"Is it weazand slitting?" he said. "Snickersnee!"

"Get out!" cried Dinny. "Did they cut mine?"

"Yours, you deserter!" said the sailor, contemptuously.

"As much a deserter as you are, d.i.c.k Dullock. Sure, and they tuck me prishner, wid a musket to me ear and a bagnet to my chist."

"You look like one," said the sailor, sourly.

"Will you surrender?" growled Bart.

"Yes. Can't do no more, can I? Only bear witness, all on you, as I did my dooty. Didn't I, youngster?"

"You fought like a brave man," said Jack, gravely; "but it is of no use to struggle now, so give up."

"Ay, I'll give in," said the sailor; "but I'm a-going to lie here till the firing's done. I'll stand fire when there's fighting o' both sides; but I'm a prisoner now, and out of it, so here I stays."

Bart rose from where he had been kneeling on the man's chest, and straightened himself slowly, but only to start as a fresh volley was fired and a pellet grazed his chin; but he only uttered a savage growl like an angry beast, and made way for Dinny to sit down and row with all his strength.

Suddenly a shout from the bay sh.o.r.e took the attention of those in the boat, and the firing ceased.

"What's that mean?" cried Abel.

"They've found our boat," said Jack, excitedly.

It was true enough; and the fugitives redoubled their efforts to reach the cutter, while the overseer continued the firing, so as to disable some of the party before they could attain the shelter the vessel would give.

Abel was. .h.i.t twice, and Bart received another shot, but the distance was great now, and the pellets too small to do serious mischief; but as they rowed round behind the cutter, anxiously watching to see that no one was aboard, its hull sheltering them from the firing, the noise and the buzz of voices ash.o.r.e drew their attention to the fact that the overseer, the officer, and four more had entered the boat, which started with a cheer from those left behind, and pulled rapidly in pursuit.

"Quick, Bart, run up the jib while I cut the rope."

"Nay, haul up to it, you and Dinny," cried Bart, as he ran forward.

"It's only a grapnel."

The firing recommenced now so viciously that every act on board the cutter was performed with great risk, the overseer and the officer taking it in turns to send a hail of buckshot at everyone who showed a head above the low side of the vessel.

But in spite of this the party worked well, and the sailor having surrendered, contented himself, as soon as he was aboard, by lying down upon the deck and beginning to chew.

The grapnel was hauled in, the jib hoisted, and Jack stationed at the tiller; but the sail slowly flapped to and fro, refusing to fill, and the only way on the cutter was that given by the falling tide.

"She'll be aboard of us, Bart, long before we get out of the bay," said Abel, with a groan of despair.

"Niver say die," cried Dinny, who had just given a turn to the painter which held the cutter's boat.

"Are there any arms aboard?" growled Bart. "Cuss it! look there!"

This last was consequent upon a shot ploughing a little channel along his neck. "D'yer hear what I say--you?" he said again to their prisoner. "Are there any arms aboard?"

"Yes, in the cabin--muskets," said the sailor; "but you leave 'em alone, my lad. This here as you've done's piracy, and if you kill anybody it's murder."

"Then let 'em keep off," said Bart, with a fierce growl as he followed Abel into the cabin, both reappearing again directly with muskets and ammunition.

"I tell you it's piracy," said the sailor from where he lay. "Isn't it, Dennis Kelly?"

"Faix, I s'pose it is," said Dinny, smiling. "There's so much in a name."

"Here you, Dinny, get up a musket," cried Abel. "You can shoot."

"Don't you, Dinny!" said the sailor. "It's hanging business."

"But I'm a prishner," said Dinny, grinning, "and obliged."

"It'll be a hanging matter, Dinny," cried the sailor, as the Irishman reappeared with a musket in his hand.

"It'll be a flogging sure if I'm took," said Dinny, "for they'll niver belave I'm acting against my will. Now, Captain Abel," he continued, as he loaded his piece, and laid it so that he could command the boat, "whin you ordher me to fire, why, av coorse I shall, but you must take the credit of the shot."

"Keep off!" roared Abel, as the boat now neared them fast. "You'll get bullets instead of buckshot: you come nearer."

"Surrender, you piratical scoundrel!" roared the overseer. "Put down that musket. Row hard, my lads!"

Whatever may have been the overseer's weakness, want of courage was not one; and this he proved by discharging his piece, and standing up in the boat to watch the effect.

The distance was short, but there was a faint puff of air now which filled the sail, and there was a feeling of intense relief as the cutter rapidly left the coming boat behind.

Jack's cheeks flushed, and his eyes sparkled as, with a touch of the tiller, he seemed to send the cutter rus.h.i.+ng through the water; while an angry yell rose from behind as the boat dropped back.

But their despondency in the boat was only of a minute's duration, for the wind dropped as suddenly as it had risen, the cutter ceased to glide onward with the water rattling and splas.h.i.+ng beneath her bows, the jib s.h.i.+vered and hung motionless, and a cheer arose from the pursuers as the firing recommenced.

"Be ready, Bart," said Abel, with a lurid look in his eyes, as he once more levelled his piece. "You, Dinny, are you going to help?"

"No," said the sailor. "It's piracy and murder if you shoot them, Dinny Kelly, and it's fair-play if they shoot you."

"Yis, it is awkward," said Dinny; "but Oi'm thinking I don't want to go back and be on senthry again, and there, Oi'll make a compromise of it.

I won't shoot, but I'm mak' believe, and frecken 'em."

As he spoke he lay down on the deck and took aim at the occupants of the coming boat, whose position was extremely perilous, while the sides of the cutter sheltered those on board.

"Keep back!" roared Abel, as the boat neared them fast. "We're loaded with ball, not shot."

There was a momentary indecision on the part of the overseer, and it was instantly communicated to the men, for they ceased to paddle, while the two princ.i.p.als bent forward and spoke earnestly.

"No, they will not dare," said the overseer, loudly. "Go on, my lads!

Surrender, you dogs, or you shall all be hung."